The quay of Bristol is one uninterrupted wharf of hewn stone, extending nearly a mile along the inner shores of the Irvine and Avon, from St Giles to Bristol bridge. At flood tides, there is sufficient depth of water for the largest vessels to ride close to the walls, and discharge their cargoes ; but before the improvement of the harbour, they lay a-ground in the mud, at low water, from which they often received considerable da mage. This circumstance, together with the difficult navigation to and from the Severn, through a narrow river, induced the inhabitants of Bristol to apply to par liament for an act to improve their port, and to amend the navigation of the Avon. This improvement has been of the greatest advantage to the city, and is a wonderful saving of time and expence to all who frequent the port. The bed of the Avon and Frome has been dammed up as far as the hot wells, and a new channel cut for the ri ver through Radcliffe meads ; and the navigation of the Avon in one level has been opened up as high as Keyn sham. The harbour is now capable of accommodating 1000 vessels, which are not only kept afloat at the quays, but are enabled to enter the locks, and go to sea at neap titles. Upon changing the course of the Avon, two cast iron bridges were erected by Mr Jessop over the new channel. The span of the iron work of each arch is 100 feet, and the rise 12 feet 6 inches, or a of the span (See BRIDGE, p. 528.) The wet docks here are very extensive, and the merchant floating dock is said to ex ceed in dimensions even those at Portsmouth or Ply mouth. This improvement of the harbour cost upwards of 300,000/., which was raised by shares of 1361. each.
Bristol has long been distinguished as one of the first commercial cities in the kingdom, and trades with more independence on the port of London than any other place in Britain. At a very early period, it carried on a con siderable traffic with every part of Europe. Its harbours were filled with vessels from Denmark, Prussia, and the Hanseatic towns, which imported much foreign wealth into the country ; and this city has always been ready in furnishing ships and money for the service of the nation. Many vessels were fitted out at this port for the purpose of discovery ; and its merchants were among the first that entered into the West India trade, and en gaged in the cod fishery on the coast of Nee foundland. Before the country was intersected with canals, the home trade of Bristol was greatly supported by its ex tensive communication with the Severn, Wye, and the other rivers on the west side of the island ; and hence it enjoyed the export and import traffic of a large part of the kingdom. Whatever exportations they made to any part of the world, they could import the full returns, and find a market, without consigning their cargoes to any other port. But since the canal navigation was esta blished, this trade has considerably decreased, as the goods of Liverpool and London now find their way into the very heart of the country. Its foreign commerce, however, is in a more flourishing state, the principal branch of which is with the West Indies. They carry out materials for building, and every article necessary for clothing and maintaining the inhabitants ; and bring in return the productions of the island, such as cotton, rum and sugar, &c. with which they supply all South Wales, and the western counties of England. They furnish the western cloth manufactories with wool from Spain, of which they annually import from 4 to 6000 bags, and give in exchange a variety of goods, particu larly tin, lead, and copper Great quantities of glass ware are exported to Ireland and America, especially bottles, of which nearly the half are filled with beer, cyder, perry, and Bristol water. Bristol carries on also
a general trade with the north of Europe, Portugal, the Mediterranean, Africa, and Newfoundland.
In 1787, there were entered at the custom-house of Inward. Outward.
Ships. Tons. Ships. Tons.
British, 416 48,125 British, 382 46,729 Foreign, 69 11,112 Foreign, 66 10,445In the same year, the number of vessels belonging to this port amounted to 365, and their burthen to 55,809 tons. Of these, 328 were engaged in the foreign trade, 30 were coasters, and seven fishing vessels, &c. The following year they had considerably increased, as we find, by another computation, that they then amounted to 392 vessels ; of which 34 were employed to Jamaica ; 38 to the Leeward Islands ; 50 to North America ; 37 to Africa ; 33 to Newfoundland ; 200 to London, Ireland, and the Continent ; besides 103 troves employed in the trade on the Severn and Wye. The commerce, how ever, of this port, received a severe check during the last and present war. The hand of industry was para. lized, and the spirit of adventure almost entirely extin guished. But it is again beginning to revive, from the new improvements and conveniences of its harbour, and has rather been in the increase during this year or two (1812) : for, notwithstanding the distress that has oc curred in the commercial world, not a single bill has been returned by this city on the West Indies. In order to give our readers some general idea of the nature and quantity of the commodities imported into this city, we have collected, in the following table, the weekly im ports of the three last months of 1811.
Bristol has many considerable manufactories, which furnish it with several valuable articles of exportation. Glass-making is carried on to a very great extent, and is greatly increasing ; and more glass is said to be made here than at any other place in England. There are 20 sugar-houses, for the manufacture and refining of sugars ; several large distilleries, which help to supply the London market, and which have also a considerable foreign exportation ; a brass-rolling manufactory ; ex tensive iron founderies, where cannon are cast and bored ; a manufactory of zinc out of calamine stone ; large soap-works, where the best hard white soap is made, which is sent to most parts of the kingdom, and of which great quantities are exported to America ; manufactures of white and red lead, and of lead shot ; turpentine, sulphur, and vitriol works; and a manufac ture of china ware. In the neighbourhood of Bristol, are found those six-cornered stones called Bristol stones, which were formerly in such great request ; and be tween this city and Bath, at a place called \Varntley, company of Bristol merchants have established an ex tensive manufactory of pins and other brass articles, which is wrought by water raised by two steam engines, and at which several hundred hands are employed, ex cluding 200 children of both sexes, from 7 to 12 or 13 years of age. The woolen manufactures of Bristol, for which it was formerly so famous, are now at an end, and nothing remains of this trade but a few serges and other stuffs. Besides its own manufactures, Bristol exports various commodities of the surrounding country, as cheese, cyder, and beer, herrings taken in the chan nel, salt from Droitwich, coarse woollens and stockings, hardware from Birmingham and Wolverhampton, and earthen ware from Staffordshire. It has two fairs in the year, on the first days of March and September, which continue for ten clays, and are frequented by shop keepers, from all parts of the kingdom.